The chart-topping songbird says she didn't know the desert-dwelling dictator and his family were the ones who booked her for shows and she's embarrassed about it. On her website, she explains that she, Usher and Beyonce were among the artists paid to perform at New Year's parties on St. Bart's thrown by the sons of "vicious, crazy dictator" Gadhafi.

“I was naïve and unaware of who I was booked to perform for," Carey wrote. "I feel horrible and embarrassed to have participated in this mess. Going forward, this is a lesson for all artists to learn from. We need to be more aware and take more responsibility regardless of who books our shows. Ultimately we as artists are to be held accountable.”

A representative for Carey says the singer is donating the proceeds of a new song she wrote for her upcoming album to organizations to raise awareness for human rights.

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According to People, Nelly Furtado was the first musician to step up, announcing via Twitter that she is donating the $1 million paid to her by the Gadhafi family to charity.

"In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Qaddafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy. I am going to donate the $."